Responding to Terror

Four ways to react to the horrific bombings in Boston.

Two explosions went off near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Monday killing three people and injuring over a hundred. One of the dead is an eight year old boy. Seventeen people are currently listed in critical condition and 25 in serious condition. At least 10 people injured had limbs amputated. The FAA placed a temporary flight restriction over the area as the police commissioner urged people to stay home and away from large crowds. Two other explosive devices were found near the finish line. Dr. Alisdair Conn, chief of emergency medicine described the blasts as military style bombing.

"This is like a bomb explosion we hear about in the news in Baghdad or Israel," Alisdair commented as he gave credit to a group of Israeli experts who came two years ago to Mass General Hospital to help them set up a disaster team for this kind of emergency. “Because of them, we were prepared.”

Within an hour of the explosions, NY police sent extra security to landmarks and the White House was placed on lock down. The Boston marathon has been run since 1897 on Patriots Day, the third Monday in April. Thousands of spectators were at the event along with 27,000 runners.

President Obama made a brief statement at the White House after sending his thoughts and prayers to the victims: "We still don't know who did this or why but make no mistake. We will get to the bottom of this. We will find out who did this. We will find out why they did this. Any responsible group will feel the full weight of justice."

As major cities around the country raised security alerts, and the Boston police continued to search the streets for possible undetected explosives, Americans waited to hear information. Who did it? Why did they do it? In this frightening age of terrorism we have no clear answers. The first questions that most reporters asked following the attack were: Were there any warning signs? Did the police receive any threats beforehand? And we are left dazed and shocked once again as officials struggle to find answers and really, few of us know how to react. What should we say? What can we do? How do we deal with this latest, outrageous act of terrorism that, in the words of one of the runners "was absolutely surreal"?

Here are four ways we can respond to terror.

1. Separate idealism from destruction. Many of us wonder: Why would someone plant bombs at a marathon finish line? What ideals were at stake? But it isn’t really relevant what the motivation of the terrorist was because while terrorists may declare their ideals, the only real goal of any terrorist is to destroy. Lives. Families. Societies. As Benjamin Netanyahu once said: “Terrorism is carried out purposefully, in cold-blooded, calculated fashion. The declared goals of the terrorist may change from place to place. He supposedly fights to remedy wrongs-social, religious, national, racial. But for all these problems his only solution is the demolition of the whole structure of society. No partial solution, not even the total redressing of the grievance he complains of, will satisfy him- until our social system is destroyed or delivered into his hands.”

2. Pray. Say a prayer not only for the victims and their families but for mankind. We are living in a generation when these attacks have become so common, some of us don’t even pause when we hear the latest news. Let’s stop. Think about those who were killed. Those who lost limbs. Those who lost any sense of normalcy and security. When we pray we are not only asking God to heal those who are injured, we are also sensitizing ourselves to share the burden of others in whatever way we can. Even if it’s just a moment of silence or a few sentences that we whisper to ourselves, it helps.

3. Help. One man who lives near the finish line in Boston reported that he brought 50 people into his condo immediately following the blasts. Many of them were runners who needed food and drink; most importantly, they just needed somewhere to go as police closed off the streets and blocked entrances to the hotels. Others gave blood as the victims arrived at the emergency rooms. But even for those of us who don’t live in Boston, there are other ways to help. We can send a card or a gift basket to the injured victims in the hospital or to their families. Or get involved in organizations that help terror victims and their families. Do something even if it’s just writing an email or tweet of support and comfort for the victims. Being proactive helps us to regain our hope and sanity.

4. Be grateful. After the attack, one of the runners kept repeating how it was such a beautiful day before the attack. Not too hot. Not too cold. Sunny and breezy. A person trains for months, maybe years to run a marathon. He wakes up the morning of the race, and the weather is perfect. Everything is in place, the race is going just as he envisioned it would be and then suddenly, one’s life is literally toppled over. This reminds us that we are not in control of our lives. And that we need to treat each day as its own gift. Appreciate what we have today. Every limb. Every breath. Every step.

As the news continues to trickle in about the eight year old child who was killed and the dozens of others who are still fighting for their lives, I think about what David Levithan wrote in Love is the Higher Law: “What separates us from animals, what separates us from the chaos, is our ability to mourn people we’ve never met.” And so we do this today in the aftermath of the Boston terror attack. We mourn. We mourn for those who lost their lives. We mourn for those who lost their loved ones. And we mourn too for all of us, who have lost our bearings once again in a world torn apart by terror. May He give us the courage and the strength to help each other up and face yesterday’s brokenness together.

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About the Author

Sara Debbie Gutfreund received her BA in English from the University of Pennsylvania and her MA in Family Therapy from the University of North Texas. She has taught parenting classes and self-development seminars and provided adolescent counseling. She writes extensively for many online publications and in published anthologies of Jewish women's writing. She and her husband spent 14 wonderful years raising their five children in Israel, and now live in Blue Ridge Estates in Waterbury, Connecticut, where Sara Debbie enjoys skiing and running in her free time.

The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 13

(13)
Beverly Paris,
April 19, 2013 2:25 AM

My heart is full of love for these wounded people. I mourn them

If and when you find these terrorists, they should Be blown apart like these innocent children and adults in the hospitals that are in critical conditions and lying there with missing limbs. I will say a mishaberach in temple on Saturday.

(12)
Saul,
April 17, 2013 6:14 AM

In the name of God

Just how many millions of human beings have died in the name of God? Just look at history. The reality is that people are not only physically but mentally different and therefore follow their own interpretation of life. We have first to accept that not all of us evolve towards civilisation at the same rate and some even go backwards e.g, terrorists motivated by their very basic, primitive instincts of survival through killing others who are different to themselves. We will never change the world to ensure that by some miracle, only the good will inhabit the earth but a giant step forward would be when mankind realises that is NOT a human with all it's positive and negative characteristics but rather a cosmic super intelligence (quote Einstein). When people realise and accept that a veil will be lifted from their eyes and instead praying for special favours or killing others to "please" God, they would wonder and admire the awesome universe, the galaxies, the workings of the human body, the mind the micro-organisms, etc. - all of these the creation of THE SUPREME INTELLIGENCE, and we petty humans, bent on destroying tnot only fellow humans but but also to blow up this very earth with nuclear weapons..

(11)
Esther stahler,
April 17, 2013 1:16 AM

Fantastic enlightening proactive

This fantastic article gives us insights inspiration and proactive ways to deal with this horrific act of terror. Be mindful prayerful and thankful .

(10)
Tatyana,
April 17, 2013 12:21 AM

all we need is...pray!

The story is so well written, from heart to the hearts, that is why the comments are as beautiful and heart breaking as the article. Thanks to everybody and please pray for the comfort of those who needs it! If only we knew....

(9)
Esther,
April 16, 2013 6:50 PM

Accept my condolences

Bible made us to understand that the days are evil, nations are angry, men run tro & fro, knowledge increases, men's love wax cold. All points to the 2nd coming of The Master Of The Universe.

(8)
irene slonimsky,
April 16, 2013 5:52 PM

my thoughts and prayers are with the wounded and their families

may this craziness cease so people can live and appreciate the gift of life instead of killing.

(7)
shelia,
April 16, 2013 4:23 PM

thoughts

your words opened me up to even more comfort and clarity,thank you.will keep praying

(6)
ruth housman,
April 16, 2013 3:34 PM

a Plea to God

I am experiencing a story, and that story presents in constant mirroring connectivity, in words, in the deconstruction of language, and it is a profound walk across Babel. For me, it's a very difficult experience, that brings me towards despair and also ecstasy. And everything in between. I was devastated, as was everyone. I took a walk and saw the MARA or bitter in the word itself Marathon. And it hit hard for me, because I had written in the morning before all this took place, this horror, this utter terror, the fact that we're all in a marathon, as exemplified by the Jacques Brel song, Marathon, which begins, Marathon, Marathon, Mara Mara Marathon. The runners traditionally cross Heartbreak Hill in Newton, so that too, was an echo for me, of this unconscionable act. And I am saying, BASTA to God, because what I am getting makes me put God on trial, and yes, I see layers as in PARDES, the Orchard. Simply how it is, for me. And today Bartlett's a tree company came, to nourish my apple trees and spray them. There are deep currents here, and I am traversing more than one world, and writing my heart out, on line. I cannot be alone with this story forever. And I do, put God on trial. As there's a story within a story. And sure, terror must stop, and these terrorists must be caught.

And God says, put me on trial. I accept responsibility because I wrote this story, and ultimately, as the story winds its way to Jerusalem, through the East Gate, all souls hold hands around the world and we dance.

We must, until then, live within the paradox, And it is profound.

Forgive me, for putting down, what is coming to me, every single day, in every single way. For weeping. And the willows are now bent, and have leafed, in this my garden.

I must believe as Anne did in her Diary, it will all come out all right. I simply MUST!

(5)
Deborah,
April 16, 2013 3:25 PM

Beautifully said. Thank you.

(4)
Yasmin,
April 16, 2013 2:46 PM

Condolences

As I'm receivibg chemotherapy by IV for my second bout with cancer, My thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost lived ones or injured. May your loved ones be of blessed memory.
I thank G-D every day that I can breath, walk and able to see the sky.
Blessings.

(3)
candlewitness,
April 16, 2013 2:23 PM

Separate idealism from destruction

Here in the US Terrorism is becoming the norm and being acepted as justifiable. Killing for killing's sake is twisted and demonic. Israel handles terrorism without mixing it up and thus we as a nation must learn from them. An excellent article. Thank you!

(2)
Anonymous,
April 16, 2013 1:07 PM

Thank you

I never even knew this happened. Thank you for telling me. I wish condolences and a speedy recovery to those involved in this terror attack.

I've been striving to get more into spirituality. But it seems that every time I make some progress, I find myself slipping right back to where I started. I'm getting discouraged and feel like a failure. Can you help?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Spiritual slumps are a natural part of spiritual growth. There is a cycle that people go through when at times they feel closer to God and at times more distant. In the words of the Kabbalists, it is "two steps forward and one step back." So although you feel you are slipping, know that this is a natural process. The main thing is to look at your overall progress (over months or years) and be able to see how far you've come!

This is actually God's ingenious way of motivating us further. The sages compare this to teaching a baby how to walk. When the parent is holding on, the baby shrieks with delight and is under the illusion that he knows how to walk. Yet suddenly, when the parent lets go, the child panics, wobbles and may even fall.

At such times when we feel spiritually "down," that is often because God is letting go, giving us the great gift of independence. In some ways, these are the times when we can actually grow the most. For if we can move ourselves just a little bit forward, we truly acquire a level of sanctity that is ours forever.

Here is a practical tool to help pull you out of the doldrums. The Sefer HaChinuch speaks about a great principle in spiritual growth: "The external awakens the internal." This means that although we may not experience immediate feelings of closeness to God, eventually, by continuing to conduct ourselves in such a manner, this physical behavior will have an impact on our spiritual selves and will help us succeed. (A similar idea is discussed by psychologists who say: "Smile and you will feel happy.")

That is the power of Torah commandments. Even if we may not feel like giving charity or praying at this particular moment, by having a "mitzvah" obligation to do so, we are in a framework to become inspired. At that point we can infuse that act of charity or prayer with all the meaning and lift it can provide. But if we'd wait until being inspired, we might be waiting a very long time.

May the Almighty bless you with the clarity to see your progress, and may you do so with joy.

In 1940, a boatload 1,600 Jewish immigrants fleeing Hitler's ovens was denied entry into the port of Haifa; the British deported them to the island of Mauritius. At the time, the British had acceded to Arab demands and restricted Jewish immigration into Palestine. The urgent plight of European Jewry generated an "illegal" immigration movement, but the British were vigilant in denying entry. Some ships, such as the Struma, sunk and their hundreds of passengers killed.

If you seize too much, you are left with nothing. If you take less, you may retain it (Rosh Hashanah 4b).

Sometimes our appetites are insatiable; more accurately, we act as though they were insatiable. The Midrash states that a person may never be satisfied. "If he has one hundred, he wants two hundred. If he gets two hundred, he wants four hundred" (Koheles Rabbah 1:34). How often have we seen people whose insatiable desire for material wealth resulted in their losing everything, much like the gambler whose constant urge to win results in total loss.

People's bodies are finite, and their actual needs are limited. The endless pursuit for more wealth than they can use is nothing more than an elusive belief that they can live forever (Psalms 49:10).

The one part of us which is indeed infinite is our neshamah (soul), which, being of Divine origin, can crave and achieve infinity and eternity, and such craving is characteristic of spiritual growth.

How strange that we tend to give the body much more than it can possibly handle, and the neshamah so much less than it needs!